How American Politics Affects Immigration: A Beginner’s Guide for Immigrants
🏛️ Find My Elected Officials
Choose your city to find the official government websites where you can identify the people representing you at the federal, state and local level.
You do not need to know your congressional district. The official U.S. House tool can identify your representative using your ZIP code.
Your exact representative may depend on your home address. Use the official lookup tools below rather than assuming everyone in the same city has the same representative.
🇺🇸 Federal Government
Federal officials are the most relevant elected officials for issues involving federal immigration laws, visas, green cards, citizenship and federal immigration agencies.
🏛️ State Government
State lawmakers deal with state laws and programs such as education, driver’s licenses, professional licensing, state benefits, employment protections and other state-level issues.
🏙️ City Government
Your city government can help you find your mayor, city council members and information about local programs and services.
Elected officials change after elections, and district boundaries can change. Some cities also contain more than one congressional, state legislative or city council district.
Using your actual ZIP code or home address through an official government lookup gives you the most current answer.
Who Should I Contact About Immigration?
- Immigration laws or proposed changes: Contact your U.S. representative or U.S. senators.
- A problem with USCIS or another federal immigration agency: Your congressional office may provide constituent case assistance.
- State programs or state laws affecting immigrants: Contact your state legislator.
- Local services, city programs or neighborhood issues: Contact your mayor or city council.
Important: A congressional office may inquire about a federal immigration case, but it cannot order USCIS or the Department of State to approve an application.
Burma Heaven does not endorse any political party, candidate or elected official. This tool links to official government resources so you can identify your current representatives.
If you are new to the United States, American politics can seem confusing.
You may hear words such as:
- Democrat
- Republican
- Independent
- Congress
- President
- Supreme Court
- Liberal
- Conservative
- Federal government
- State government
You may also notice something important:
Immigration rules can change significantly depending on who controls the government.
That is because immigration is not only a legal issue. It is also a political issue.
Congress writes immigration laws. Presidents and federal agencies administer and enforce those laws. Federal courts decide whether government actions comply with statutes and the Constitution. American voters help determine who controls many of those institutions.
This guide explains how that system works in simple terms without telling you which political party to support.
If you are currently going through the U.S. immigration process, you can also use Burma Heaven’s Immigration Tools to find practical guides, trackers and immigration resources.
Why Politics Has So Much Influence Over Immigration
The federal government has broad authority over immigration.
Congress creates the laws that establish much of the U.S. immigration system.
Those laws affect areas such as:
- Family-based immigration
- Employment-based immigration
- Green cards
- Visa categories
- Annual visa limits
- Naturalization
- Grounds of inadmissibility
- Deportation
- Asylum
- Refugee programs
- Immigration enforcement
- Border policy
The Constitution Annotated, published by Congress, explains the federal government’s broad authority over immigration and Congress’s central role in establishing immigration law.
You can read the official explanation here:
Constitution Annotated — Congressional Power Over Immigration
Because immigration policy is created and administered through government institutions, changes in political power can affect immigration policy.
A new Congress can pass different laws.
A new president can change enforcement priorities and administrative policies.
Federal courts can determine whether particular government actions are lawful.
The Basic American Political System
The federal government is divided into three branches.
Congress — Makes Laws
Congress is the legislative branch.
It consists of:
- The House of Representatives
- The Senate
Congress writes and passes federal laws.
This includes immigration laws.
For example, Congress determines the basic legal structure governing:
- Family preference immigration
- Employment immigration
- Annual visa limits
- Grounds of inadmissibility
- Deportation laws
- Naturalization requirements
- Immigration penalties
You can search bills and federal legislation directly through the official Congress.gov website.
This is useful when you hear that Congress is considering a new immigration law.
A politician proposing a bill does not mean the bill has become law.
The President — Administers and Enforces Laws
The president leads the executive branch.
Several important immigration agencies are part of the executive branch.
These include:
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services — USCIS
USCIS handles many immigration benefits, including:
- Green-card applications
- Family petitions
- Employment immigration petitions
- Naturalization
- Employment authorization
- Certain humanitarian programs
Official website:
USCIS also provides online immigration tools and account services through myUSCIS.
U.S. Department of State
The Department of State plays a major role when immigration processing occurs outside the United States.
It oversees:
- U.S. embassies and consulates
- Immigrant visas
- Nonimmigrant visas
- Consular processing
- The Visa Bulletin
For official visa information, use:
For visa availability and priority-date information, use:
Travel.State.gov — Visa Bulletin
You can also use Burma Heaven’s immigration tools to make the process easier to understand:
Burma Heaven Immigration Tools
Department of Homeland Security
The Department of Homeland Security includes major immigration agencies such as:
- USCIS
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection — CBP
- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement — ICE
Different agencies perform different jobs.
USCIS primarily handles immigration benefits.
CBP is heavily involved with borders and ports of entry.
ICE handles immigration enforcement and certain removal activities.
Official websites:
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Why Presidential Elections Can Matter to Immigration
Although Congress writes the underlying immigration laws, presidential administrations can have substantial influence over how those laws are administered.
A new administration may change:
- Enforcement priorities
- Agency leadership
- Regulations
- Immigration guidance
- Border procedures
- Refugee policies
- Certain humanitarian programs
- Resources devoted to immigration enforcement
- How immigration agencies interpret certain rules
That is why two immigrants going through similar immigration processes under different administrations may experience different policies.
However, the president does not have unlimited power.
Congress creates the underlying statutes, and courts can review executive actions.
Federal Courts — Interpret the Law
The federal courts make up the judicial branch.
Courts can review government immigration actions and determine whether they comply with:
- Federal statutes
- Administrative law
- Constitutional requirements
Immigration lawsuits can involve questions such as:
- Did an administration exceed its legal authority?
- Did an agency properly follow federal law?
- Does a policy violate constitutional protections?
- Did the government follow required procedures?
The Supreme Court has historically recognized especially broad congressional authority over admission and exclusion of noncitizens.
You can learn more from the official:
Constitution Annotated — Immigration and Due Process
How Political Power Flows
A simple way to understand the system is:
Eligible voters
↓
Elect members of Congress and the President
↓
Congress creates laws
↓
The President and federal agencies administer and enforce those laws
↓
Federal courts interpret the law and Constitution
That is why elections can eventually affect immigration policy.
Why American Freedom Matters to Politics
The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects several important freedoms.
These include:
- Freedom of speech
- Freedom of religion
- Freedom of the press
- Peaceful assembly
- The right to petition the government
These freedoms allow Americans to:
- Criticize government policies
- Support political candidates
- Organize advocacy groups
- Protest peacefully
- Contact lawmakers
- Publish political opinions
- Campaign to change laws
This matters because government policy is continually influenced by public debate.
Immigration is one of the subjects Americans debate most intensely.
For immigrants coming from countries where political criticism, demonstrations or opposition activity may be dangerous, this part of American civic culture can feel very different.
Freedom does not mean everyone agrees.
In many ways, American political freedom means people have the right to disagree openly.
Immigration Policy Reflects Competing American Values
Immigration debates often involve several important values at the same time.
National Sovereignty
Every country has authority to control its borders and establish rules for who may enter.
Family Unity
American immigration law allows many U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents to petition for qualifying relatives.
Family immigration remains one of the major paths to permanent residence.
If you are navigating family immigration, visit:
Burma Heaven Immigration Tools
Economic Needs
Businesses may seek:
- Skilled workers
- Temporary workers
- Professionals
- Researchers
- Entrepreneurs
- Workers in industries experiencing shortages
Employment immigration therefore becomes part of political debates about the economy and labor market.
Humanitarian Protection
The United States has laws addressing:
- Refugees
- Asylum
- Humanitarian parole
- Other humanitarian protections
Official information about refugees and asylum is available through:
and
Travel.State.gov — Refugee and Humanitarian Information
National Security and Public Safety
Immigration law also contains security screening and grounds that may prevent someone from entering or remaining in the United States.
These concerns often become more politically important after:
- Wars
- Terrorist attacks
- International conflicts
- Sudden migration increases
- Border emergencies
Rule of Law
Another major political disagreement involves how immigration law should be enforced.
Americans may agree that laws should exist while strongly disagreeing about:
- Who should be removed
- Who should receive humanitarian protection
- Whether certain undocumented immigrants should receive legal status
- How aggressively immigration laws should be enforced
- Whether current laws should be changed
That is why immigration debates are rarely as simple as being either “for immigration” or “against immigration.”
Democrats, Republicans and Independents
The United States has two dominant political parties:
Democratic Party
and
Republican Party
There are also independent voters and smaller political parties.
It is important not to assume that every person belonging to one political party believes exactly the same thing.
Political parties contain many different viewpoints.
Democratic Views on Immigration
In modern American politics, Democratic politicians generally place greater emphasis on policies such as:
- Legal pathways to citizenship for some undocumented immigrants
- Protection for Dreamers and DACA recipients
- Family reunification
- Refugee admissions
- Asylum protections
- Humanitarian immigration programs
- Limits on certain deportation practices
- Maintaining or expanding some legal immigration pathways
However, this does not mean Democratic administrations do not enforce immigration laws.
Democratic administrations have also:
- Conducted deportations
- Detained immigrants
- Enforced border laws
- Restricted immigration in certain circumstances
- Prosecuted immigration violations
The political disagreement is often about:
who should be prioritized, how enforcement should occur, and what legal pathways should exist.
Republican Views on Immigration
In modern American politics, Republican politicians generally place greater emphasis on:
- Border enforcement
- Deportation
- Immigration detention
- Preventing unauthorized immigration
- Stronger screening
- Employer enforcement
- Restrictions on certain humanitarian immigration programs
- More restrictive asylum policies
- Strong enforcement of existing immigration laws
Republican policymakers also support different forms of legal immigration.
However, modern Republican immigration policy generally places greater emphasis on enforcement, deterrence and restriction than modern Democratic immigration policy.
Political polling consistently finds substantial partisan differences on immigration policy.
What Does Independent Mean?
An Independent generally means someone who does not identify formally with either of America’s two major political parties.
But Independent is not one political ideology.
An Independent voter may be:
- Conservative
- Liberal
- Moderate
- Libertarian
- Centrist
- Dissatisfied with both parties
Many Independents lean strongly toward either Democrats or Republicans.
That is why political surveys often divide Independents into:
Republican-leaning Independents
and
Democratic-leaning Independents
rather than assuming all Independent voters think alike.
Democrat vs. Republican Immigration Views
These are broad tendencies only.
| Immigration Issue | Democrats Generally Emphasize | Republicans Generally Emphasize |
|---|---|---|
| Border | Enforcement combined with humanitarian protections | Stronger enforcement and deterrence |
| Undocumented immigrants | Legal pathways for some groups | Removal and stronger enforcement |
| Dreamers/DACA | Protection and legal status | Greater restrictions or negotiated protections |
| Asylum | Greater humanitarian access | Tighter eligibility and enforcement |
| Refugees | Generally higher admissions | Generally greater restrictions |
| Deportation | Prioritizing certain cases | Broader enforcement |
| Family immigration | Generally supportive | Some support restructuring or limiting categories |
| Immigration enforcement | Enforcement with additional humanitarian safeguards | Enforcement and deterrence emphasized |
These are general tendencies, not rules.
Individual Democrats and Republicans may hold positions different from their party.
Political parties also change over time.
Immigration Politics Have Changed Throughout American History
It would be inaccurate to say:
Democrats have always supported immigration
or
Republicans have always opposed immigration.
American political parties have changed substantially over time.
Immigration policy has also changed because of:
- Wars
- Economic conditions
- Labor shortages
- National-security concerns
- Racial attitudes
- Migration waves
- Public opinion
- International crises
- Elections
Early American Immigration Policy
For much of early U.S. history, federal immigration restrictions were relatively limited compared with the modern system.
During the late nineteenth century, Congress began creating much stronger federal immigration restrictions.
One important example was the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which severely restricted Chinese immigration.
The history of U.S. immigration law therefore includes both:
periods of openness
and
periods of restriction.
The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965
One of the most important changes in modern U.S. immigration history came with the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965.
It abolished the older national-origins quota system and helped create the modern system that emphasizes categories including:
- Family relationships
- Employment
- Skills
Many of today’s family-based immigration categories developed from this period of reform.
Immigration Reform in 1986
Another major change came through the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986.
The law included both:
Legalization
Millions of qualifying undocumented immigrants were eventually able to obtain lawful status.
and
Enforcement
The law increased restrictions involving unauthorized employment and created employer verification requirements.
This is an important example because major immigration laws frequently contain both humanitarian or legalization provisions and enforcement provisions.
Immigration After September 11, 2001
The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 significantly changed the political discussion surrounding immigration and border security.
National security became much more important.
The federal government reorganized immigration agencies under the newly created Department of Homeland Security.
Modern agencies including:
- USCIS
- ICE
- CBP
developed within that structure.
Immigration Has Become Highly Politically Polarized
Immigration is now one of America’s most politically divisive issues.
Republicans and Democrats frequently disagree about:
- Border enforcement
- Deportation
- Asylum
- Refugee admissions
- Immigration detention
- Legalization
- Immigration enforcement tactics
- Humanitarian programs
But Americans still do not divide perfectly into two groups.
There are immigration policies where substantial numbers of Democrats and Republicans agree, and there are disagreements within each party.
Why Presidential Elections Matter
Presidential elections can produce noticeable immigration-policy changes even if Congress has not rewritten the entire Immigration and Nationality Act.
A new administration can change:
- Enforcement priorities
- Agency leadership
- Regulations
- Executive policies
- Refugee admissions
- Border operations
- Certain humanitarian programs
- Immigration guidance
- Government resources
That is why immigrants may see policy changes shortly after a new president takes office.
But the President Cannot Simply Rewrite Immigration Law
A common misunderstanding is:
“The president controls immigration law.”
Not completely.
Congress creates federal immigration statutes.
For example, a president generally cannot simply abolish an immigration category created by Congress without legal authority.
Likewise, a president cannot permanently create an entirely new immigration system that directly contradicts federal law.
Presidential authority operates within:
- The Constitution
- Laws passed by Congress
- Authority Congress delegated to executive agencies
Courts can review whether an administration exceeded those powers.
Why Congressional Elections Matter
Presidential elections receive the most attention, but congressional elections are extremely important for long-term immigration reform.
Major permanent changes generally require Congress.
Congress would normally be involved in significant changes involving:
- Family immigration categories
- Visa limits
- Employment immigration
- Green-card quotas
- Naturalization
- Deportation grounds
- Permanent legalization programs
If you hear about a proposed immigration law, you can verify whether it has actually been introduced or passed at:
Why Courts Matter
Immigration policies frequently become the subject of lawsuits.
A federal judge may block a policy.
An appeals court may later allow it to continue.
The Supreme Court may eventually decide the legal issue.
That is why immigration news can sometimes look like this:
New immigration policy announced
↓
Federal court blocks policy
↓
Appeals court changes ruling
↓
Policy changes again
This is part of the American system of checks and balances.
Why Politics Matters Even If You Cannot Vote Yet
Many immigrants cannot vote when they first arrive.
Politics can still affect them directly.
Government decisions can influence:
- Immigration processing
- Visa availability
- Green-card procedures
- USCIS policies
- Border enforcement
- Deportation priorities
- Refugee admissions
- Asylum procedures
- Naturalization procedures
- Immigration fees
- Government staffing
So political decisions can affect your immigration journey long before you become eligible to vote.
Green-Card Holders and Voting
A lawful permanent resident is commonly called a green-card holder.
Having a green card does not give someone the right to vote in federal elections.
Only eligible U.S. citizens may vote in federal elections.
USCIS specifically identifies voting in federal elections as a right of U.S. citizens.
Official information about voting is available at:
USA.gov — Voting and Elections
If you are not a U.S. citizen, be careful about:
- Registering to vote
- Claiming U.S. citizenship
- Voting in an election for which you are not eligible
Immigration consequences can be serious.
If you are uncertain about your eligibility, verify the rules before registering or voting.
Naturalization Changes Your Political Rights
The process of becoming a U.S. citizen is called naturalization.
USCIS explains that applicants generally complete an application, attend required appointments, complete the naturalization interview and tests when applicable, and take the Oath of Allegiance before becoming citizens.
Official citizenship information:
USCIS — Citizenship and Naturalization
You can also review:
myUSCIS — Naturalization: What to Expect
Once an eligible person becomes a U.S. citizen, voting becomes one of the political rights available to citizens.
You Do Not Have to Join a Political Party
Becoming an American citizen does not require you to become a Democrat or Republican.
A voter may identify as:
- Democrat
- Republican
- Independent
- Another political party
- No party preference, depending on state rules
You can also change your political opinions over time.
Political freedom includes the freedom to decide for yourself.
Freedom Includes the Right to Disagree
One important part of American political culture is that people regularly criticize:
- Presidents
- Congress
- Governors
- Immigration agencies
- Political parties
- Court decisions
People may strongly disagree with government policy.
Peaceful political disagreement is a normal part of American democracy.
This can be especially unfamiliar to immigrants who grew up under governments where criticizing political leaders could result in punishment.
In the United States, constitutional protections allow much broader public political debate.
Political News Is Not the Same as Immigration Law
This is one of the most important lessons for immigrants.
A politician saying:
“I am going to change immigration.”
does not mean immigration law changed that day.
There are several different possibilities.
Campaign promise
Something a politician says they want to do.
Proposed legislation
A bill introduced in Congress.
Passed legislation
A bill approved by Congress.
Federal law
Legislation that has completed the required lawmaking process.
Regulation or agency policy
A rule or policy created under existing legal authority.
Executive action
An action taken by the president under claimed executive authority.
Court ruling
A judicial decision that may allow, stop or change a policy.
These are not the same thing.
How a Federal Immigration Law Is Usually Made
A simplified legislative process looks like this:
- A bill is introduced.
- The House and Senate consider it.
- Both chambers must approve legislation.
- Differences between versions may need to be resolved.
- The legislation goes to the president.
- The president may sign it into law.
The actual congressional process can be more complicated, but this explains why many immigration proposals discussed in the news never become law.
You can track federal legislation at:
How to Check Whether Immigration News Is Real
Immigration rumors spread quickly through:
- TikTok
- YouTube
- Community groups
- Messaging apps
Before making an immigration decision based on something you hear online, check an official source.
If it concerns USCIS applications:
Use:
If it concerns visas or consular processing:
Use:
If it concerns the Visa Bulletin:
Use:
Travel.State.gov — Visa Bulletin
If it concerns a proposed federal law:
Use:
If it concerns voting:
Use:
USA.gov — Voting and Elections
Using Burma Heaven Alongside Official Sources
Burma Heaven is designed to help make complicated immigration information easier to understand.
You can start with:
Burma Heaven Immigration Tools
For immigrants already navigating a case, Burma Heaven provides practical resources such as:
- Visa Bulletin tools
- Priority-date tools
- CEAC status guidance
- NVC document information
- DS-260 guidance
- Immigration journey resources
For official decisions about your case, always verify information with USCIS, the Department of State or another appropriate government agency.
The Most Important Thing to Understand
American immigration policy is shaped by law, politics and elections together.
Congress
Writes immigration laws
President and federal agencies
Administer and enforce those laws
Courts
Interpret laws and constitutional limits
Eligible voters
Choose many of the officials who exercise political power
That is why immigration policy can change significantly from one political period to another.
A Simple Rule for Following Immigration Politics
Whenever you see dramatic immigration news, ask:
Who announced it?
Is it a proposal or actual law?
Did Congress pass anything?
Did USCIS publish an official policy?
Did the Department of State publish new visa guidance?
Has a court blocked or changed it?
Then verify it through an official government source.
That one habit can prevent a great deal of confusion.
Continue Exploring Burma Heaven
Explore Burma Heaven Immigration Tools
Read About Life and Immigration in America
If you are also learning how employment and taxes work after arriving in the United States:
How to Read Your W-2 as a New Immigrant
Official U.S. Government Resources
USCIS — U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
USCIS — Citizenship and Naturalization
Travel.State.gov — Visa Bulletin
Congress.gov — Federal Legislation
Constitution Annotated — U.S. Constitution
USA.gov — Voting and Elections
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Important Note
This guide explains how the American political system interacts with immigration.
It does not endorse the Democratic Party, Republican Party, any candidate or any particular immigration policy.
Political parties, laws and immigration policies change over time.
For decisions involving your individual immigration case, verify current information with USCIS, the U.S. Department of State or a qualified immigration professional.
Burma Heaven provides general educational information and does not provide individualized legal, immigration or political advice.
Find Your Elected Officials
Understanding American politics is useful, but knowing who actually represents you is even more important.
Depending on where you live, you may be represented by elected officials at several different levels:
- U.S. House of Representatives
- U.S. Senate
- State legislature
- Governor
- Mayor
- City council
- County government
Different officials handle different types of issues.
For example, if you want to express an opinion about federal immigration law, your members of Congress are generally more relevant than your mayor.
If you have a concern about a city service, local ordinance or neighborhood issue, your city council member may be the appropriate person to contact.
Start With Your Home Address
Your representative is usually determined by where you actually live, not simply by the city name.
Large cities can contain multiple:
- Congressional districts
- State senate districts
- State house or assembly districts
- City council districts
That is why Burma Heaven recommends using your home address or ZIP code with an official government lookup tool instead of relying on a list of politicians that may later become outdated.
Find Your U.S. Representative
Members of the U.S. House of Representatives represent individual congressional districts.
Use the official U.S. House lookup:
Find Your U.S. Representative by ZIP Code
Enter your ZIP code to find the representative currently serving your congressional district.
Your U.S. representative can be an important contact regarding federal issues such as:
- Immigration legislation
- Federal agency policy
- Federal funding
- Visa legislation
- Citizenship legislation
- Congressional constituent assistance
The House’s official lookup matches ZIP codes with current congressional districts and provides links to the member’s website and contact information.
Find Your U.S. Senators
Every state has two U.S. senators.
Unlike members of the House, senators represent the entire state rather than one congressional district.
Use:
Find and Contact Your U.S. Senators
The Senate specifically advises constituents to contact the senators representing their own state about legislation, public-policy concerns or requests for assistance.
Find Your State Representatives
Your state government also has elected lawmakers.
Depending on the state, these may be called:
- State senators
- State representatives
- Assembly members
- Delegates
State lawmakers generally deal with state law rather than federal immigration law.
However, state governments can make decisions involving issues that affect immigrant families, including:
- Driver’s licenses
- Education
- State benefits
- Employment protections
- Professional licensing
- Housing rules
- State taxes
- State-funded programs
You can start with:
USAGov — Find and Contact Elected Officials
or:
Find Your Mayor and City Council
Local government can affect your everyday life even though cities do not write federal immigration laws.
Local officials may make decisions involving:
- Police policies
- Local services
- Housing
- Libraries
- Parks
- Public transportation
- Community programs
- Zoning
- Local business rules
- City budgets
- Language-access programs
USAGov provides an official starting point for finding local governments:
Burmese Communities: Start With These 20 Cities
Based on Burma Heaven’s research into U.S. cities with significant Burmese populations, readers in the following communities can use the official government tools above to identify their current representatives.
1. St. Paul, Minnesota
Look up:
- U.S. House representative
- Minnesota’s two U.S. senators
- Minnesota state senator
- Minnesota state representative
- St. Paul mayor
- St. Paul city council member
Federal:
State/local:
2. Fort Wayne, Indiana
Look up:
- U.S. House representative
- Indiana’s two U.S. senators
- Indiana state senator
- Indiana state representative
- Fort Wayne mayor
- Fort Wayne city council member
3. New York City, New York
New York City contains multiple congressional, state legislative and city council districts, so your street address is especially important.
Look up:
- U.S. House representative
- New York’s two U.S. senators
- New York state senator
- New York State Assembly member
- Mayor
- New York City Council member
4. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Look up your federal, Wisconsin state and Milwaukee city representatives.
5. Omaha, Nebraska
Look up:
- U.S. representative
- Nebraska’s U.S. senators
- Nebraska state senator
- Omaha mayor
- Omaha City Council
Nebraska is unusual because its state legislature is unicameral, meaning it has one legislative chamber rather than separate state house and state senate chambers.
6. Buffalo, New York
Use your home address because Buffalo residents can live in different legislative districts.
7. Utica, New York
8. Bowling Green, Kentucky
9. Des Moines, Iowa
10. Tulsa, Oklahoma
11. Amarillo, Texas
12. Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix contains multiple districts, so use your exact home address whenever possible.
13. Dallas, Texas
Dallas is divided among multiple congressional, state and local districts.
Use your address rather than assuming everyone in Dallas has the same representative.
14. Aurora, Colorado
Aurora extends into more than one county and contains multiple political districts, making an address-based lookup especially important.
15. Charlotte, North Carolina
USAGov — North Carolina Government
16. Lewisville, Texas
17. Syracuse, New York
18. Battle Creek, Michigan
19. Akron, Ohio
20. Daly City, California
Look up:
- U.S. House representative
- California’s two U.S. senators
- California state senator
- California Assembly member
- Daly City mayor/city council
USAGov — California Government
Which Official Should You Contact About Immigration?
U.S. Representative
Contact your U.S. representative about:
- Federal immigration legislation
- Changes you want Congress to consider
- Problems involving a federal agency
- Congressional constituent assistance with a pending federal immigration case
A congressional office generally cannot order USCIS to approve your case.
However, constituent-services staff may sometimes make inquiries with federal agencies regarding unusually delayed or problematic cases.
U.S. Senators
Your senators also deal with federal legislation and can provide constituent services involving federal agencies.
Because each state has two senators, you are represented by both.
State Legislators
State lawmakers do not control federal visa or green-card laws.
They may be relevant for state issues involving:
- Education
- Driver’s licenses
- State benefits
- Employment rights
- Professional licensing
- Housing
- State-funded immigrant programs
Mayor and City Council
A mayor or city council cannot change federal immigration law.
Local government may influence:
- Local policing policies
- Community programs
- Language-access services
- Libraries
- Housing programs
- Local immigrant services
- City budgets
- Public transportation
- Neighborhood issues
Can Immigrants Contact Elected Officials?
Yes.
You do not need to be a U.S. citizen simply to contact an elected official, write a letter, express an opinion or ask a government office for information.
Constitutional protections include important rights involving speech, petition and peaceful political participation.
Voting is different.
Eligibility to vote depends on citizenship and applicable election law.
Contacting Congress About Your Immigration Case
If you have a pending case with an agency such as:
- USCIS
- Department of State
- National Visa Center
- U.S. embassy or consulate
your congressional representative or senator may have a constituent services or casework office.
Look on the representative’s official website for sections such as:
- Help with a Federal Agency
- Immigration Assistance
- Casework
- Constituent Services
You may be asked to complete a privacy-release form before the congressional office can contact the agency about your individual case.
Remember: Your Address Determines Your Representative
Do not search:
“Who is the congressman for New York?”
New York City alone has multiple congressional districts.
Instead, use:
your actual ZIP code or home address.
Start here:
Find Federal, State and Local Elected Officials
These official resources stay current as elected officials and districts change.